Method of constructing canals and the like



Oct. 1, 1935. J: H DE w WALLER 2,015,771

METHOD OF CON STRUCTING CANALS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 16, 1934 G/ zgg Dew, Wq

INVENTO a Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF cs METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING CANALS AND THE LIKE Application October 16, 1934, Serial No. 748,508 In Great Britain October 25, 1933 4 Claims.

This invention relates to the building and constructing of canals, channels, dykes, ditches, tanks, ponds, reservoirs and the like and has for its object to make the building and construetion of such structures an easier and simpler matter while at the same time reducing the cost of making such channels and walls watertight soas to reduce seepage and erosion. Another object of the invention is to provide a new method of andmeans for constructing irrigation canals, channels, dykes, ditches, tanks, ponds, reservoirs and the like quickly and easily with a minimum of cost and labour. r

The method according to the present invention comprises excavating or building up or embanking the ground to form a trench, reservoir or the like, lining such excavation or embankment with one or more layers of woven fabric made of vegetable fibre, and impregnating and coating said fabric with concrete or the like.

One form of the invention will now be described,'by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in whichz Figure 1 is a section of a canal.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are modifications.

In carrying the invention into effect according to the form illustrated a trench A or the like of the required size is excavated in the ground B by any usual means to form the canal, pond or the like and the sides and bottom of this are then lined with one or more layers of woven fabric C of vegetable materials such as hessian, for instance, having a fairly open mesh. The hessian when placed in position is made to conform to the contour of the excavation and is then covered over with a thin paste or slurry of concrete D which is sufiiciently fluid to pass through the meshes of the fabric C and unite on the underside thereof so as to encase the hessian completely in concrete. When this is set a further coating of concrete E of thicker consistency is applied to form the bottom and sides of the canal.

If the ground is of a sandy nature the concrete which passes through the meshes of the fabric will unite with the sand and thus form an additional skin or coating on the underside of the fabric. If, however, the ground is not of a sandy nature or is muddy or soft it is not advisable for the concrete to unite with it when it oozes through the fabric. In order to prevent this a layer of sand can be spread over the interior of the excavation or trench and thus provide something for the cement or concreteto adhere to in order to increase the thickness of the skin on the underside of the fabric.

Further, if desired, a thin lining of concrete F (Figure 2) can first be placed in the excavation and then the vegetable fabric or hessian C can be laid upon the concrete foundation before or after the foundation has set and covered over a Q with a thin paste or slurry of concrete or the like which, when set, is covered with a further coat.- ing E of concrete of thicker consistency, or when the foundation is placed and before it has set the fabric may be pressed or beaten into the soft foundation after which it may be coated over with a thin paste or slurry of concrete or the like which, when set, is covered with a further coating E of concrete of thicker consistency.

Instead of covering thevegetable fabric with a thin paste or slurry of concrete as described above the whole fabric may be dipped in the slurry of concrete or cement and then laid in the excavation. The fabric is completely impregnated by this means and when set a coating of 20 concrete of thicker consistency is applied to form the interior of the canal or the like. Or again, the fabric may be impregnated with concrete and when still wet may have a further coating of stiffer concrete added which means that the whole covering is applied virtually in a single operation.

By the method above described canals, channels, dykes, ditches, tanks, ponds, reservoirs or the like of any form or configuration can be made very simply and easily by excavating the ground to the desired shape or contour and lining it according to the method described above. Further. the hessian or other vegetable fabric can be made in long lengths so that the joints of the reinforcement need not be made at numerous points as is the case when short lengths of metal reinforcements are used. With the lengths of fabric the ends may be sewn together or simply made to overlap. Again, since the vegetable fabric or hessian is very flexible bends or curves can be negotiated without breaking the continuity of the reinforcement since if necessary the fabric can be made to pucker or overlap at corners or bends, the said puckers or overlaps being sewn up 45 if necessary.

When canals, reservoirs or the like according to the above description are made in soft ground it is desirable to provide some sort of strengthening means at the upper edges of said canals or the 50 like and for this purpose I may provide thickened up portions of concrete G (Figure 3) which may be reinforced with metal rods H. Further, reinforced concrete beams K may be cast in the ground (Figure 4) on which the edges of'the 55 canal rest. These may form a flat or level brink or rim to the canal or the like. These reinforcements or strengthening supports on each side of the canal may be made of metal or of hessian or other vegetable fabric incorporated in the concrete.

If desired, such reinforcement may also be provided to run longitudinally of the canal at the bottom thereof by providing a reinforced'concrete beam L (Figure 3) of any suitable section cast in the ground on which the canal can rest. This may be made of concrete reinforced by metallic or other means.

In very soft ground which is likely to be washed away plunger piles M made of concrete may be provided under the edges or banks of the canal or under the bottom or both. These plunger piles are easily made by forming a hole in the ground of conical or other shape and then filling said hole with concrete up to the level on which the reinforced lining of concrete will rest.

The method and means described above are very suitable for making canals and channels which are curved in direction and in cross section in soft ground which can be easily and quickly excavated for irrigation and such purposes. They can however be used for canals, channels, dykes, ditches, tanks, ponds, reservoirs or the like of any shape and size formed by excavating in any kind of ground.

It is to be understood that any woven fabric of vegetable fibres may be employed and that one or more layers of fabric may be used with intervening layers of concrete or the like.

What I claim is:

1. A method of constructing canals, channels, dykes and ditches, comprising excavating the ground to form a trench, laying woven vegetable fabric loosely in said excavation, impregnating 5 said fabric by applying a very liquid coating of concrete, and when set applying one or more other layers of concrete of thicker consistency.

2; A method of constructing canals, channels, dykes and ditches, comprising excavating the ground to form a trench, lining said trench with a layer of sand, laying woven vegetable fabric loosely on said sand in said excavation, impregnating said fabric by applying a very liquid coating of concrete, and when set applying one or more other layers of concrete of thicker consistency.

3. A method of constructing canals, channels, dykes and ditches, comprising excavating the ground to form a trench, impregnating a sheet of woven vegetable fabric by dipping in a liquid concrete, laying said impregnated fabric loosely in said excavation to conform to the contour thereof and when set applying one or more other layers of concrete of thicker consistency.

4. A method of constructing canals, channels, dykes and ditches, comprising excavating the ground to form a trench, lining said trench with a layer of concrete, laying woven vegetable fabric loosely on said concrete in said excavation, impregnating said fabric by applying a very liquid coating of concrete, and when set applying one or more other layers of concrete of thicker consistency.

JAMES HARDRESS DE WARRENNE WALLER. 

